Folding device for tobacco-packaging machines



G. W. GWINN:

FOLDING DEVICE FOR TOBACCO PACKAGING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 18, I920 1,365,399. I Patented Jan. 11, 1921.

3 SHEETSSHEET l- G. W. GWINN. FOLDING DEVICE FOR TOBACCO PACKAGING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I8, 1920.

Patnted Jan. 11, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR fl fl. BY f/ A I'TORNEY G. W. GWINN.

FOLDING DEVICEFOR TOBACCO PACKAGING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 18, I920. Patented Jan. 11, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

7/4 i W M .1: flu mm. M. ..r.-r. 0 T n I ing operation.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE WILBUR GWINN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO AUTOMATIC PACKING & LABELING COMPANY, OF DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA, A CORPO- RATION OF NORTH CAROLINA.

FOLDING DEVICE FOR TOBACCO-PACKAGING- MACHINES.

Application filed May 18 To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE W. GW NN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, county of Kmgs, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Folding Devlces for Tobacco-Packaging Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in folding devices for tobacco packaging machines and it has for its main ob ect the production of a simplified and more efficient device of this character particularly adapted for making the end folds of the wrapper on packages of tobacco.

The invention consists in certain parts, constructions and combinations which will be hereinafter fully described and then specifically pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawlngs, wh ch form a part of this specification and in which like characters of reference indicate the same or like parts, Figure 1 is aside elevation of a device constructed in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a similar View, partly 1n section, showing the folder platen in engage-' ment with a package; Fig. 3 is a front elevation of a part of the same structure showing the intucking members in engagement with a package; Fig. 4shows the same 1ntucking members after they have been swung out of engagement with the package, and the mechanism for operating them; Flg. 5 1s a detailed sectional view showing the friction device carried by the folder platen; Fig. 6 is a side elevation showing the folder platen in engagement with a package and the folding members in operative position; Flg. 7 1s a view of the same parts partly in section showing the platen and folding members as they retreat from the package; and Figs. 8, 9 and 10 illustrate the folding operations performed on the package.

In carrying the invention into efiect, there is provided means for making the initial end folds of a package wrapper, a platen provided with a pair of articulated folding members normally lying in the plane of the platen, and means for moving said platen into engagement with the package and thereafter to swing the folding members out of the plane of the laten to effect their foldn the best constructions,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 11, 1921.

, 1920. Serial No. 382,275.

" there is further provided means for intuckng the package wrapper which acts after platen engagement with a package and beforefolding member operation; the means for moving the platen is cam controlled and includes a friction device for controlling the operation of the folding members; and the intucking members are interge-ared and cam controlled. All of the above parts and means may be widely varied in construction within the scope of the claims. The particular structure selected to illustrate the invention is but one of many possible concrete embodiments of the same and therefore the invention is not to be restricted to the precise details of the structure shown and described.

Referring to the drawings, 11 indicates a part of the main frame of a tobacco packaging machine. Mounted upon this frame is a bracket 12 provided with bosses 13 and 14: and carrying an overhanging bracket 15, the purpose of these brackets being to support the various parts of the present folding device. The tobacco packaging machine is also provided with an intermittently rotating turret 16 carrying a series of package pockets 17. 'T'he structure so far described, with the exception of the brackets 12 and 15, is old and well known in the art, and since a detailed description of the same is deemed unnecessary to a full understanding of the present invention, it is omitted in the interest of brevity and clearness.

The packages are inserted in the pockets at a point distant from the folding devices and come to the latter with a wrapper folded around the package but open at both ends. As a package approaches the position of the folding device, the initial end folds are made by means of a pair of sliding folders 18, one pair being provided for each pocket 17 These folders carry at their lower ends bowls 19 tracking on stationary cams 20 aiiixed to the main frame of the packaging machine; and when the turret 16 is rotated to bring a pocket 17 into position under the main folding device, the folders are in the position shown in the drawings. By an inspection of Fig. 2, it will be seen that at this time, the wrapper marked W is folded up to close the ends of the tobacco package and to prevent the tobacco from falling out during succeed in folding operations.

ile the package is so held, it is engaged by a platen 21 provided with a pair of articulated folding members 22 and with a pair of guide rods 23. Pivotally connected with the folding members 22 is a pair of links 24 each provided with a pin 25 engaging the forked end of an arm 26. The arms 26 form a part of a friction device carried by the platen for controlling the operation of the same and the folding members 22. Each arm is provided with an integral disk 27 connecting with a friction pad 28 resting against the face of a boss 29 risin from the platen 21. The disks 27 are held 1n positlon by means of a bolt 30 and pressure is exerted on the friction pads through the agency of a spring 31 coiled around said bolt. The upper ends of the links 2424 are pivotally connected with the lower ends of a pair of sleeves 32, these sleeves loosely inclosing the guide rods 23 before referred to and being secured by means of set screws 33 to a crosshead 34. This cross-head is clamped to the upper end of a rod 35 reciprocating in the bosses 13 and 14 before referred to. This rod 35 is operated by a cam (not shown) fast on one of the cam shafts of the packaging'machine, the cam being of a well known character adapted to produce the reciprocating movement of the rod 35 with a dwell at each end of its movement. Threaded into the bracket 15 immediately over the boss 29 is a stop screw 36, the purpose of which is to limit the upward movement of the platen.

For the purpose of intucking that part of the package wrapper covering the edges of the package, before the final fold is made, there are provided four intucking members 37 arranged in pairs and clamped to two rock shafts 38 journaled in the bracket 15 before referred to. These two shafts 38 are intergeared by means of two segmental gears 39 fast on said shafts. The shafts 38 are rocked at the proper time by means of a link 40 pivotally connected to one of the members 37 and to the upper end of a lever 41 fulcrumed at 42 on the bracket 12 before referred to. The lever 41 is provided with a stud 43 carrying a bowl engaging a cam slot 44 formed in an arm 45 fulcrumed at 46 to the bracket 12. The free end of the arm 45 is connected with a universal joint 47 which is also connected to the forked end 48 of a rod 49 operated by a cam (not shown) on one of the cam shafts of the packaging machinej As soon as a pocket 17 has come into pos1- tion under the folding device, the rod 35 is operated by its cam and the platen 21 descends from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 2, the folding members being caused to descend by the positive action of the sleeves 32 operating through the links 24 while the platen is held in proper relation to the folding members by the friction device which it carries. By

an inspection of Figs. 1 and 2 it will be seen the time the platen engages the package,-

the package wrapper at each of its ends is in the condition shown in Fig. 8. As soon as the platen reaches the position shown in Fig. 2, the rod 35 stops and as a consequence the platen 21 and folding members 22 come to rest in the position shown in Fig. 2. The intucking members 37 then come into action, their normal position being shown in Fig. 4 and their operative position being shown in Fig. 3. As soon as the intucking members 37 reach the position shown in Fig. 3 (thus effecting the intucking of the wrapper at the package edges, and as shown in Fig. 9), they immediately retreat to their normal position, as shown in Fig. 4. 'The interrupted downward movement of the rod 35 is then resumed. The platen cannot descend because it is in contact with the package in the pocket 17. This further downward movement of the rod 35, and of course of the crosshead it carries, swings the folding members 22 down to the position shown in Fig. 6, which results in the final fold, as shown in Fig. 10. As this final downward movement of the rod 35 takes place, the'arms 26 are swung downward overcoming the friction of the pads 28. As soon as the parts reach the position shown in Fig. 6, the movement of the rod 35 is reversed and the platen and folding members move upward in the direction of the arrow, as shown in Fig. 7, the platen and folding msem|bers being held by the friction device in the position to which they were forced during the final downward movement. When the boss 29 comes in contact with the stop screw 36, the platen is stopped thereby while the continued u ward movement of the rod 35 and crosshea 34 swings the folded members back to their normal position in the plane of the platen, as shown in Fig. 1. When the parts reach this position, the turret 16 is moved to take away the folded package'and to bring a fresh package under the folding device; and when this occurs the operation, as just described, is repeated.

What is claimed is:

1. In a tobacco packaging machine, the combination with a platen provided with a pair of articulated folding members normally lying in the plane'of the platen, of means for moving said platen into engagement with a package and thereafter to swing the folding members out of the plane of the platen to effect their folding operation.

2. In a tobacco packaging machine, the

combination with a platen provided with a pair of articulated folding members normally lying in the plane of the platen, of cam controlled means for moving said platen into engagement with a package and thereafter to swing the folding members out of the plane of the platen to effect their folding operation.

3. In a tobacco packaging machine, the combination with a platen provided with a pair of articulated folding members normally lying in the plane of the platen, of cam controlled means including a friction device for moving said platen into engagement with a package and thereafter to swing the folding members out of the plane of the platen to effect their folding operation.

4:. In a tobacco packaging machine, the combination with a platen provided with a pair of articulated folding members nor mally lying in the plane of the platen, of cam controlled means including a pair of links pivoted to said members and a friction device connecting said links and said platen for moving said platen into engagement with a package and thereafter to swing the folding members out of the plane of the platen to effect their folding operation.

5. In a tobacco packaging machine, the combination with a platen provided with a pair of articulated folding members normally lying in the plane of the platen, of cam controlled means for moving said platen into engagement with a package and thereafter to swing the folding members out of the plane of the platen to effect their folding operation, said means including a pair of links pivoted to said members, a friction device connecting said links and said platen, and a crosshead connected with said links;

6. In a tobacco packaging machine, the combination with a platen provided with a pair of articulated foldin lying in the plane of t e platen and with a pair of guide rods, of cam controlled means for moving said platen into engagement with a package and thereafter to swing the folding members out of the plane of the platen to effect their folding operation, said means including a pair of links pivoted tosaid members, a friction device connecting said links and said platen, and a crosshead provided with a pair of sleeves inclosing said guide rods.

7. In a tobacco packaging machine, the combination with a platen provided with a pair of articulated folding members normally lying in the plane of the platen, of

means for moving said platen into engagement with a package and thereafter to members normally wrapper acting after platen engagement and I before folding member operation.

8. In a tobacco packaging machine, the combination with a platen provided with a pair of articulated folding members normally lying in the plane of the platen, of means for moving said platen into engagement with a package and thereafter to swing the folding members out of the plane of the platen to effect their folding operation, and cam controlled means for intucking the package wrapper acting after platen engagement and before folding member operation.

9. In a tobacco packaging machine, the combination with a platen provided with a pair of articulated folding members normally lying in the plane of the platen, of means for moving said platen into engagement with a package and thereafter to swing the folding members out of the plane of the platen to effect their folding operation, and a pair of intergeared cam controlled intucking members acting after platen engagement and before folding member operation.

10. In a tobacco packaging machine, the combination with a platen provided with a pair of articulated folding members normally lying in the plane of the platen and with a pair of guide rods, of cam controlled means for moving said platen into engagement with a package and thereafter to swing the folding members out of the plane of the platen to effect their folding operation, said means including a pair of links pivoted to said members, a frlction device connecting said links and said platen, and a crosshead connected with said links and inclosing said guide rods, and a pair of intergeared cam controlled intucking members acting after platen engagement and before folding member operation.

11. In a tobacco packaging machine, the combination with means for making the initial end folds of a package wrapper, of a platen provided with a pair of articulated folding members normally lying in the plane of the platen, means for moving said platen into engagement with a package the wrapper of which has the initial end folds and thereafter to swing the folding members out of the plane of the platen to effect a final folding operation, and means for intucking the package wrapper acting after the initlal end folds are made and after platen engagement but before the final folding operation.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification. 

